7/18/2006
My trip, a random meeting and Soldier Life the book.
American Soldier says,
This last month has given me a lot of time to view things from a different perspective and evaluate some things that I might have overlooked otherwise. I made a trip to Idaho and visited my good friend Chad. I got away from things but not really. Being in Idaho just gave me a chance to remove myself from one environment and seek solace somewhere else. My trip was one of the best I’ve had in a while. Idaho is much like my neck of the woods. I said a few times that it was like home but in a different state. The way the roads are setup, the woods and the good natured people.
I had a great week. I caught some fish, had a few cook outs, took a dip in a lake, camped, shot varmints, hunted the illusive coyote, I met some great folks from the NRA. The one thing that stood out was being able to talk about my experiences comfortably with the people I met. They didn’t judge me, they just listened. They live in a place where appreciation for family and our rights is paramount.
I opened up a few times to Chad and told him some of the experiences I had over there. The whole trip was worth it.
The day I left something occurred that really topped it off. While in line to get my tickets, I saw another soldier. We really stick out like sore thumbs. Anyway, I get to the Kiosk and he was right next to me. He asked me if I was coming or going. I told him I had been back for a few months now and I came back early due to being wounded. I asked him his job and he said he was a crew chief on a C5. He said he had just gotten back the night prior. He was pushing his 8 month old baby in a stroller whom he never seen until the day before. It put a smile on my face.
Well I kept bumping into this guy along my travels and I swore I knew him from somewhere. I just couldn’t place it. The Army can seem very small but I didn’t remember him from any prior bases I was at. While on a layover, I saw him and his family. I approached him and ask him about the aircraft he flew in over there. At that point I figured he might have been on the same plane I was on when I was evacuated. I describe the flag in the hull and a few other things. Sure as shit that was the same plane he was the crew chief of. He tended to me while I was laid up on a stretcher. I was in and out for the duration of the flight but I remembered his face. What are the chances of that?
We parted ways and I was just happy that I had met him. I really didn’t know how to respond. So I went to the terminal of my next flight. He was passing by and he came up to me pushing his baby. The words that came out of his mouth really stuck with me. “In the 16 years of my career I’ve always wondered about the guys that we flew out. You have made my career come full circle by meeting you.” The man had tears in his eyes. He explained that he always wondered about the ones who were hurt. He knew the disposition of the ones in boxes but the ones on stretchers like me, where did they go and how did they make out?
We had some more words between two soldiers who were strangely reunited, one on a trip fresh from the war and another enduring the mental war. It was good to have that experience; it closed a few things that might have hampered a bit longer.
Since being back I have decided that I will be most likely self publishing Soldier Life. Unless a publisher comes along and wants to pick it up I will begin the procedures to do it myself. While in Idaho, Chad and I spoke of this a few times. I think I almost owe it to my readers to release the book. There will also be a 2nd book as well. This is going to go into a place where the feint of heart will need to take the book in moderation. I am going to write about the raw reality of war and what I went through personally. How it affected me mentally, physically, my family and my experiences as a whole. I don’t care if publishers think Soldier Diary’s are not the genre of the month or not, people want to know about the war. Even if I sell one book, one person will be enlightened. To be quite honest, publishers who are solely about money can go fuck yourselves, why not go out on a limb and publish books with meaning and not worry about how much it’s going to inflate your pockets. Take the small amount of money it does make and donate it to random lower enlisted soldiers who are collecting food stamps because the fucking government is too cheap to raise their pay. Sorry, I digress. It just pisses me off.
Anyway…
So that is where I stand. The experiences that I have encountered in the last month, the closures, the plans and most of all, the time to reflect.
I will be announcing the progression of the book soon. Just keep a watch out for it.
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36 Responses to “My trip, a random meeting and Soldier Life the book.”
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Hi AS I have been reading your blog since the beginning over on blogger. It is good to hear the trip to Idaho was enjoyable for you and I hope things are starting to get better. You are right it is beautiful country out there.
I look forward to the news about the book!
Thanks
AS,
I’m so glad that you enjoyed your visit to Idaho. Wow! What are the chances of meeting the guy that flew you out. That was a great experience I’m sure to see him.
That’s a great idea about the books. That will help you to write your experiences down as well as help us who read it to understand a little about war and what you guys go through. Thanks AS!
Please continue to feel better and as always you and your family are in my prayers! God Bless You All!!
My Week Off With American Soldier
I’ve had a nice vacation this last week. I got me a week off of work, and just had a good time hangin out with American Soldier. Yup. He’s the special guest that I mentioned earlier. We talk back and forth now and then, and he mentioned thi…
Yer welcome over anytime, friend. Next time you gotta bring out the wife and kids, though. And when I get that illusive coyote… you’ll be first to see her carcas.
And I can’t wait for book #2!
AS, good to hear from you again. Sounds like a much needed vacation. Thinking of seeing the guy who tended to you, thats amazing. It must have been something.
I am excited about the book and can’t wait to get a chance to read both of them.
Life is amazing. You never know what is around the corner, and who you might meet. Glad you had a vacation to regroup. Looking forward to your book!
Very best regards, Donna
Wow, that is humbling to meet the man who tended to you when you were being evacuated. I’m sure it was a wonderful experience for both of you.
AS, I am glad you took time to get away. All of us need time like that; to get away from the stress and burdens life holds. I am glad you met some people who took time to listen. There needs to be more of that.
I can’t wait for the copy of your first book. I missed it the first time you offered, so am waiting for it to become available.
All the best, and take care.
Awesome…. just… awesome. I KNEW “something” had to be going on over there… glad you are doing alright. That is just an INCREDIBLE story about meeting the Soldier — just too awesome… That is just great. I love it when stuff like that happens… awesome!
I am looking forward to Soldier Life and the second book, as well. (there - consider that “one copy” you hoped to sell, sold, LOL!). Seriously - I do want to read both. And will certainly make the news of your book(s) release(s) known far & wide via my blog. Do you know that YOUR blog - well, your book, really, is the reason that I started MY blog in the first place????? Seriously - remember last year, you emailed a bunch of people who you’d had email conversations with at some point,and asked us all to post about “Soldier Life”’s then-imminent release on our blogs? Well, I didn’t have an active blog at the time — so I started one, just so I could post about your book for you, LOL!!! Seriously, true story. And now look - almost a year later, and so much awesome stuff happend to me as a result of my blog… which is all thanks to you, LOL, for inspiring me to start a blog in the first place, LOL! Way cool.
OK, enough reminiscing, LOL — good to hear from you….. hang in there. I know I sound like a broken record, but we ARE proud of you, we DO appreciate you, and you ARE in our prayers and thoughts DAILY.
THANK YOU, Sir.
What a wonderful thing for both of you, to meet…again. I would imagine it helped each of you, in different ways. Thanks again to you and your family.
as soon as i find out that its ready for sale i will buy a copy of your book
take care
AS what a great story and to have it come full circle like that is amazing and meant to be.
I am so glad you went to see Chad. It was a time that was needed and you did it.
Your writing is so appreciated and I am glad there will be a 2nd book too.
Thank you AS you not only are one of the reasons I live in the land of the free but you also touch many lives with your sharing too and mine is one of them.
This story is going on my blog right after I hit the save button.
I am glad to see an update AS. I was getting worried about you. I don’t tell you that to burden you; but, to let you know you are thought of often. You have become part of so many people’s lives. Now don’t go and take that on as another burden. I only say it, again, to let you know I care. We all care.
Your meeting with the soldier who helped by taking care of you during your evacuation was awe inspiring. To a degree I understand what he has experienced all those years. I know it is dumb but the most troubling aspect of the war for me has been the memories of my tour in the 60’s during Vietnam. Every time I get a “Thank you for your service” and I do get many, I feel like such a fraud. That’s because I hear the voices and laughter, remember fading images of every soldier I met in San Diego who went to boot camp there or trained there then shipped out to Vietnam while I stayed safely behind! . I have been to the “Wall” several times and it troubles me I can’t find my guys because I don’t remember their full names.
I would love to meet just one of them and know he made it back ok. I hope you know what you did for that soldier. You let him know that in the end it had all been worth it all. God sent you that day and him too. He destined you two to meet. He healed a tiny part of the heart of two wounded warriors.
That is so terrifically awesome that you two were able to meet again!
And I’m so happy to hear that the book will be available soon ~ and that there will be more than one!!
Thank you, AS!!!!
I’m looking forward to buying myself a copy when you get it published!
I am glad you had a great vacation. Very serendipitous that you met with the crew chief who flew you home. I am glad both of you got to connect 
Considered another one sold. I don’t know if you have ever heard of the talk show host Michael Savage. You can find him at michaelsavage.com. He is a big supporter of our military soldiers. He is pushing for the release of the “Pendleton 8″. He raises money for their defense. Anyway contact him when you are ready to publish your book. He wants people to know what is really going on over there. Maybe he can give you the exposure it needs. And as for that soldier you met, it wasn’t by chance you met him. There is a reason and it was meant to be.
Oh yeah - and I bet “The Kimmer” would publicize your books, too! www.kimmershow.com - He’s a former marine and is HUGE on Support our Troops stuff!
I met a nice lady at the DOHA forum. She went to http://www.infinitypublishing.com/ and got her book oublished. Her Name is Nancy Reubin. She seemed to like them pretty well. Just a thought.
I was happy to read your update. Good to hear of your recent trip and all it entailed. God works in wonderful ways.
I’m praying you and yours are well.
I’m waiting for the book
YAY!
AS…. I’m glad you got to visit Chad. It sounds like you had a HUGE impact on the crew chief you met. That is just wonderful- simply wonderful. I often wonder what comes of the people I’ve helped through Red Cross, so I understand his “need to know”.
I can’t wait for BOTH books. War is hell, and if it helps to write it out.. then by all means, DO IT. You *know* we’ll read it!
Wouldnt minda copy of your book mate. Recently passed recruit selection at Pirbright ADSC.
Now a recruit rifleman at F Company, the Royal Green Jackets, Royal Rifle Volunteers. Would be good to chat to you as we’ve been told we will be deployed late 07 or early 08.
Hope all is well mate.
A friend of ours published his book via www.lulu.com. They don’t charge to publish your book initially. They take a flat rate cut of the sales and you know that rate up front. They have distribution and you get an isbn number. Lulu deposits commissions directly to your paypal account when sales are made. This might be an option for publishing for you to consider. Vinny over at www.insignificantthoughts.com published his book ‘Blogosphere’ through them. Many of us desperately want to understand what it’s like for our heroes over there without the BS. Thank you for you blog and the insight into your thoughts.
This is a great post AS. I’m glad you were able to get away to a place you felt comfortable in. That was wonderful about your meeting and talking to that other soldier too. And then you top it all off with talk of 2 books! You better believe I want a copy of Both of them! Take care of you. You do us so Proud, don’t forget that. Hugs and prayers.
I will wait in line for your book. I have been following your blog for a while and agree it is ashame that publishers think we americans don’t want to read books like yours.
I also would like you to check out the website of a group I belong to www.patriotguard.org
Take care of yourself and give the family a hug from me
Now you have me all excited about your books. Go ahead publish the first one right away. I hear Putnam just opened up for POD. As soon as your book is out let me know and I will promote it in my blog. I am getting lots of hits. In two or three months I will have a wide readership and you’ll have a bestseller!
AS…
Sounds like you’ve got at least a dozen buyers already and you can count me in, as well.
Your story about meeting the other solider gave me chills and brought tears to my eyes. Small world, isn’t it?
~Kathleen from Michigan
Jeeesh. Peter Sampson seems to be getting around. Earlier he credited JP at milblogging.com for starting a civil war in Iraq. Fickle isn’t he? The funniest thing is that JP never went to Iraq at all, he was in ’stan. Pete is a total ‘tard. Take care AS and ignore the assclowns!
Dude, publish the book how ever you can. Your story, like so many others today must be told. And, just think, Tom Clancy, working as an insurance agent started out by getting the Naval Institute, a specialized magazine publisher, to take “The Hunt for Red October”.
Keep Writing!
Hope all is going well for you and your family ~
Just wanted to stop by and say hey!
I like your Blog!
I hope all is well with you and your family.
Thank you for your service!
Emery
Founder: Amateur Radio Military Appreciation Day
www.armad.net
AS,
I’m like the rest here, I hope that you are doing well now! Take care and prayers to you and yours!
Protect our country from ememies, both without and within.
Terrorstorm
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5948263607579389947
Weak video. Another michael moore fan?
Incredible! I have never experienced the mental and physical trials of war, but i know what it’s like to unexpectedly find out what has happened to people with whom i’ve crossed paths at one time or another. When i was about 12, i took gymnastics, but because i didn’t like the sport as much as i thought i would, or some of the girls i took the class with, i quit. I didn’t think i would see any of them again, as we all lived in different parts of Westchester and Rockland. Besides, i wasn’t exactly making an effort to stay in contact with them. However, about a year later, i took a babysitting course held at Hastings Middle School, and one day while all of us were waiting to be picked up by our parents. The only people yet to be taken home were another girl and me. We started talking, and it wasn’t until the end of our conversation that i recognized her as one of my gymnastics teammates! She was picked up almost immediately following my revelation, so i was left sitting outside, pondering this strange turn of fate.
i wonder now if, had i been given the chance, i would have told her who i was, and reminded her of our past relationship. We were on…less than good terms, but maybe that can just be attributed to the effect of keeping seven preteen girls (unknown to one another) together in a room on a Friday night, all of whom had their own problems and issues outside of the sport. So, though my reunion with a ghost of my past was not nearly as heartwarming as AS’s, there are some similarities. I believe that the most significant one lies in the fact that two people who were unable to bond in certain circumstances, generally ones in which emotions ran high (i know, it’s just a sport, but girls are notoriously cruel in gymnastics), could at least be friendly in a more casual situation.